23 Essential items to have in your car! (2024)

• Spare tyre pumped up with tread
  This is possibly one of the most important items to have with you. Some cars do not come with a spare tyre at all when you purchase them and some come with a space saver which are limited to a certain speed. If you do have to replace a tyre, make sure you replace the spare as there is nothing worse than forgetting to repair/replace the spare tyre if you were to need it again!
• Car jack (fits under car and lifts to allow changing of the wheel)
  You can have all the equipment in the world, however, if you leave your jack behind at home then you will not be going anywhere as this is needed for (I don’t know what its needed for but waby will! Give them the info.
• Jump cables
  A very important item to have in your car. If you have ever forgotten to turn your lights off and as a result drained your battery, or needed to jump start your car for another reason and do not have jump cables this will result in a lot of frustration!
• Tyre pump
  So you have that spare which when you put it in the boot of the car it was pumped up and ready for use. You go to get it out and it’s flat. It is a very good idea to have a pump in your car, especially as sometimes when a tyre goes flat, it can be pumped up and driven as opposed to being replaced.
• Tow cable
  Have you ever broken down near a garage? Even had a friend in a separate car next to you?but just not had that handy tow line? It’s a good idea to keep one of these in your vehicle and it is advised to purchase a good quality, purpose made tow line.
• First aid kit
  Many types of injuries can be fixed with a simple first aid kit. Whether you have cut your finger and need a plaster, or broken down on a snowy day needing an emergency blanket, keep that first aid kit nearby. Make sure if you use an item to replace it.
• Torch (wind up/spare batteries)
  If you have ever lost anything at night in a small space you will know the importance of a torch. This can be used to find items or even alert drivers to your presence. Never point the torch directly at drivers, instead point on yourself so you can be seen.
• Water/Food
  Water and food are always important no matter what you do. Make sure you have a high energy bar and some water just in case.

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• Maps
  Who remembers a time before Sat Nav? Watch out! That power may unexpectedly drain and it is always a good idea to have a spare map with you.
• Ice scraper
  Icy mornings can be an inconvenience for a lot of us and for can be dangerous, especially if we attempt to drive without clearing the Ice off of our windscreens. If you don’t have a scraper you may be waiting a very long time for your windscreen to defrost.
• Carpet
  A spare amount of carpet (you can also use your car mats). If you’re driving around and your wheels loose traction this could be due to mud or snow. If you place your mat behind or in front of your tyres and accelerate, moving the wheel from far left to far right, this should gain enough traction to get on the mat and allow your wheels to move off. Equally you can get a tow out.
• Tissue
  Inside of your windscreen misty? Use a tissue, be careful though that is doesn’t mist straight back up.
• Pencil/paper
  A pad of paper and a pen/pencil in a car I believe speaks for itself but can be used to write down the details of another driver if needs be. Although make sure you are stopped in a safe location when writing something down.

• Money
  If you ever forget your wallet or purse, having some cash kept in the car for emergency purposes is always a good idea. If you use it, remember to replace it!

• Clothes
  If you have ever changed a tyre in the winter when it is raining you will know exactly why a change of clothes is on this list.

• Battery charger pack for car and phone
  You can buy a car battery jump starter which will mean if you break down, have jump leads but do not have a car to help jump you, hopefully you should be able to get going. A portable phone charger is not a bad item to have with you just in case your phone runs out of battery.

• Reflective jacket
  If you are broken down on the motorway at 2am, parked on the hard shoulder, have your reflective triangle out, you’re behind the barrier waiting for a recovery, or even attempting to fix your broken tyre (which is not advised if it’s a dangerous), having that reflective jacket allows you to be seen from far away.

• ‘Fix-a-flat’
  If you have never heard of ‘fix-a-flat’ this may just be the greatest invention for us as motorists. If you have a puncture from a nail and it leaves an open hole. All you need to do is blow up tire with ‘fix-a-flat’, wait for a certain period of time, and then hopefully the foam should dry and keep the tire up for a certain distance. WARNING… This usually means once ‘fix-a-flat’ has been inserted into the tyre, the tyre will cannot be repairable.

• WD-40
  Tight wheel nuts? Cannot get that tyre off? Some WD-40 is a quick fix to loosen anything.

• Shovel
  Snow? You may need to dig yourself out.

Important
This is just a guide as the list could probably go on forever! I have managed to fit most of this in a box in my boot that doesn’t take up to much room at all.

If I have recommended anything that you would like to know more about send us an email. For items like ‘fix-a-flat’ make sure you read the instructions before using

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